It's official now. The signs had been there for a while now. While the west bangs on about the importance of freedom and democracy, they don't actually want anyone to have too much of it. The US, France, and the UK have jointly pretty much declared war on freedom on the web.

"Ok, I know you and all the other people out there who think you should be able to just take whatever you want and not have to pay the author / artist / developer for their work will not like this one. But theft is a major problem online that needs to be dealt with."

Pedantic: copyright infringement != theft
Theft occurs when one deprives the owner of the original.

Taking a picture of art in a museum can be considered copyright infringement, but it is certainly not the same thing as thieving the original.

Pedantic: copyright infringement != theft
Theft occurs when one deprives the owner of the original.

It is effectively the same thing. If I am selling software, you have two options. You can buy it from me legitimately and pay me for it. Or you can obtain an illegal copy of it and not pay me for it. If you go that route, it's effectively no different than driving off from a gas pump without paying for the gas you pumped.

Taking a picture of art in a museum can be considered copyright infringement

The copyright has long since expired on a lot of art in museums. The reason they don't want you to take pictures of the art is because flash photography damages the art and causes it to fade over time, just as if you were to leave it in the sun.

It is effectively the same thing. If I am selling software, you have two options. You can buy it from me legitimately and pay me for it. Or you can obtain an illegal copy of it and not pay me for it. If you go that route, it's effectively no different than driving off from a gas pump without paying for the gas you pumped.

Okay, let's assume for a second that you made shirts instead, which are physical objects that can actually be stolen.

Theft : Someone comes in the factory at night, and comes back with the shirts. You can't sell them anymore, since you don't have them anymore.

Counterfeiting : Someone makes a factory next to yours that manufactures the same shirts for a lower price. You can still sell your shirts, but people won't buy them anymore because it's cheaper next door.